VIPD: St. Croix Man Arrested After Richmond Firearm Incident, Escape From Custody

ST. CROIX — A 29-year-old man was arrested after officers responding to a report of gunfire in Richmond recovered a firearm and shell casings, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department.

VIPD said officers were dispatched about 6:46 a.m. July 26 to the Richmond area near Ebenezer Methodist Church. The department said officers encountered two men and detained Samuel Rivera Jr. after one entered a residence where police believed a firearm had been concealed.

After obtaining a telephonic warrant, officers searched the residence and recovered a firearm and shell casings, according to VIPD.

Rivera was arrested on charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of an unlicensed firearm and escape from custody, police said. The department said he was taken to Juan F. Luis Hospital for medical evaluation after reporting chest pains and later escaped custody while leaving the hospital before turning himself in.

VIPD said bail was set at $30,000 and Rivera was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending an advice-of-rights hearing. Charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: Virgin Islands Police Department